The younger brother of composer Harold Arlen, Jerry Arlen attended Syracuse University, where he became friends with lyricist Jimmy Van Heusen. Together they wrote several songs. In December of 1933 and January of 1934 Arlen appeared as a vocalist on four episodes of Paul Whiteman's Kraft Music Hall radio program. Later in 1934 Arlen led a band opposite Benny Goodman at Rose's Music Hall in New York. In the 1950s Arlen conducted the orchestras for two of brother Harold's Broadway shows, House of Flowers, co-written with Truman Capote, in 1954 and Saratoga in 1959.